In the context of the Bible, the concept of "preventing" can be understood as taking action to stop something from happening or to hinder a particular outcome. This idea is woven throughout Scripture, where God, His people, and His laws often act to prevent sin, harm, or undesirable consequences.

Divine Prevention

God's sovereignty and wisdom are evident in His ability to prevent certain events or actions. In Genesis 20:6, God intervenes to prevent Abimelech from sinning with Sarah, saying, "Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her." Here, God's direct intervention prevents sin and protects His covenant promise.

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit plays a role in prevention. Acts 16:6-7 describes how Paul and his companions were "kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia" and were later prevented by the Spirit of Jesus from entering Bithynia. This divine guidance ensured that their mission aligned with God's plan.

Preventing Sin and Temptation

The Bible provides numerous instructions and wisdom to prevent sin and resist temptation. Proverbs 4:14-15 advises, "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it; do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way." This proactive avoidance is a form of prevention, steering believers away from potential sin.

Jesus teaches His disciples to pray for prevention in the Lord's Prayer, saying, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13). This petition acknowledges human vulnerability and seeks God's help in preventing spiritual downfall.

Preventing Harm and Injustice

The Mosaic Law contains numerous provisions aimed at preventing harm and injustice within the community. For example, Exodus 21:28-29 outlines laws regarding the prevention of harm caused by animals, emphasizing responsibility and proactive measures to protect others.

In the New Testament, the principle of preventing harm is echoed in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Romans 13:10 states, "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." By living in love, believers actively prevent harm and promote peace.

Preventing Division and Strife

The early church faced challenges of division and strife, and the apostles provided guidance to prevent such issues. In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul writes, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." This counsel aims to prevent discord by fostering humility and selflessness.

Similarly, in Ephesians 4:3, believers are urged to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." This proactive effort to maintain unity serves as a preventive measure against division.

Preventing False Teaching

The New Testament also addresses the prevention of false teaching within the church. Paul warns Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:20-21 to "guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge." By adhering to sound doctrine and avoiding falsehoods, the church can prevent the spread of erroneous teachings.

In summary, the Bible presents prevention as a multifaceted concept involving divine intervention, personal responsibility, and communal effort. Through God's guidance, adherence to His Word, and the practice of love and unity, believers are equipped to prevent sin, harm, and division in their lives and communities.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Prevent.

Why God Does not Immediately Cure Pride Itself. The Secret and ...
... Immediately Cure Pride Itself. The Secret and Insidious Growth of Pride.
Preventing and Subsequent Grace. But I would indeed so ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 35 xxxi why god does.htm

Because the Rapture of a Part of the Church Only, Would Leave the ...
... The reference is to the Great Tribulation period. There are two entities
which are now preventing the appearing of the Anti-christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/4 because the rapture of.htm

On the Saying of the Saviour, "All that came Before Me were ...
... happens. We say to them, that causation is seen in doing, working, acting;
but the not preventing is in this respect inoperative. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xvii on the saying of.htm

Monotony and Crises
... I know only one infallible way of preventing the common from becoming commonplace,
of preventing the small from becoming trivial, of preventing the familiar ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/monotony and crises.htm

On Obedience to the Commands of God in General
... called "co-operating and accompanying grace" differs neither in kind nor efficacy
from that exciting and moving grace which is called preventing and operating ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lxx on obedience to.htm

Letter x. --Continued Troubles.
... When we know too that our natural dislikes and rebellions, far from preventing the
merit of submission, do but increase it as long as this submission is ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter x continued troubles.htm

Whether the Second Precept of the Decalogue is Fittingly Expressed ...
... Now superstition hinders religion by preventing man from acknowledging God so as
to worship Him: and when a man's mind is engrossed in some undue worship, he ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the second precept of.htm

The World Our Enemy.
... The sciences, for instance, of good government, of acquiring wealth, of preventing
and relieving want, and the like, are for this reason especially dangerous ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon iii the world our.htm

Faith is not an Effect of Election, but is a Necessary Requisite ...
... Among those causes, I consider the preventing, accompanying and succeeding
[subsequent] grace of God, as the principal. And I say ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/article iv faith is not.htm

Thus the Future of which we Spoke at the Beginning Has in England ...
... Nobody likes the Marxian school; it is endured as the only way of preventing
poverty. Nobody's real heart is in the idea of preventing ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 11 thus the future.htm

Preventing (1 Occurrence)
...Preventing (1 Occurrence). Acts 14:18 Even with words like these they had difficulty
in preventing the thronging crowd from offering sacrifices to them. (WEY). ...
/p/preventing.htm - 6k

Necessary (75 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Impossible to be otherwise, or to be dispensed with, without preventing
the attainment of a desired result; indispensable; requiste; essential. ...
/n/necessary.htm - 30k

Open (586 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Free of access; not shut up; not closed; affording unobstructed ingress
or egress; not impeding or preventing passage; not locked up or covered over ...
/o/open.htm - 41k

Wife (437 Occurrences)
... the first son of the marriage, since he was reckoned to the deceased, inherited
from his putative, not from his real father, thus preventing the disintegration ...
/w/wife.htm - 42k

Inheritance (263 Occurrences)
... Real estate given to the priesthood must be appraised, and could be redeemed by
the payment of the appraised valuation, thus preventing the transfer of real ...
/i/inheritance.htm - 45k

Impenetrable (1 Occurrence)
... impenetrable shield. 2. (a.) Having the property of preventing any other substance
from occupying the same space at the same time. 3. (a ...
/i/impenetrable.htm - 7k

Thronging (5 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Acts 14:18 Even with words like these they had difficulty in preventing
the thronging crowd from offering sacrifices to them. (WEY). ...
/t/thronging.htm - 7k

Tolerate (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To allow or permit negatively, by not preventing;
to put up with; as, to tolerate doubtful practices. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/t/tolerate.htm - 9k

Resist (23 Occurrences)
... A substance used to prevent a color or mordant from fixing on those parts to which
it has been applied, either by acting mechanically in preventing the color ...
/r/resist.htm - 13k

Exclusive (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Having the power of preventing entrance; debarring from participation or
enjoyment; possessed and enjoyed to the exclusion of others; as, exclusive bars ...
/e/exclusive.htm - 7k

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